Evidence By Eichmann’s Associate

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 15

Evidence By Eichmann’s Associate

Copyright) (Rec. 11 pjn.) JERUSALEM. April 26. The Jerusalem Coart trying Adolf Eichmann today decMed to admit tn evHenee two death-roll rtatements made by Eichmann's one-time close associate, Dister Wisliceny, in Czechoslovakia In IMC. The Court admitted the two statements under Israeli law not normally admissible —under a clause in the Nazi and Nazi Collaborators Punishment Law of 1950, under which Eichmann is being tried. The presiding Judge, Mr Justice Noshe Landau, said that in considering the statements. the Court would bear in mind defence objections to them, including the claim that Wisliceny had been trying to shift blame on to Eichmann. Wisliceny. who was executed in Bratislava soon after giving the statements

there, offered in one of them to help find Eichmann, who was then in hiding. The Israeli AttorneyGeneral. Mr Gideon Hausner. quoted from the first statement made on October 17, 1946. which said in part: “By order of (Field-Marshal Hermann) Goering (controller of the Nazi five-year plan), authority on all Jewish affairs was handed to the head of the security police Thus the authority and power of Eichmann was increased in greater measure. "So far as I remember, in the summer of 1941. Eichmann could have made things much easier for the Jewish population if he had wished to."

The statement said Eichmann had confessed to Wisliceny in 1944 that the plan for the gas 'chamber exterminations in Auschwitz was his idea and that of S.S. Lieutenant-General Odilo Globocnik. who directed the mass shooting in Poland in 1941.

“He suggested the plan to (Heinrich) Himmler. the

supreme S.S. and police chief, and Hitler gave the order personally." Eichmann's policy towards his staff was not to release anybody who had worked for him for any other activity, Wisliceny’s statement said "He told me in Hungary during a very excited discussion: ‘We are all in the same boat and not one of us is allowed to leave the boat. I shall force anybody who wishes to part from me to .share the blame’."

The Court allowed defence counsel. Dr. Servatius, to read 10 more lines of Wisliceny’s statement saying: “I am ready at any time to work in the search for Eichmann and his identification. I would recognise him in any clothes. It is necessary for my own defence that Eichmann is fbund.

“I am convinced that I could get on to Eichmann’s tracks in a few weeks. J know him well and know his family and connexions Therefore. I propose that I be attached to an American

unit which will have the special task of tracking down Eichmann."

Dichmann leaned back in his seat in the bullet-proof glass encased dock while Wisliceny’s statements were being read out, his mouth twisted in a grimace. “Important Factor"

Part of the statement said: “Eichmann was sn extremely important factor in the extermination of toe Jews.

"He himself was a coward who never did anything without written confirmation from above. He kept all notes, generally signed by Himmler and S.S. General Kaltenbrunner.

“Eichmann was cvnicsl with regard to the Jewish problem. He was not immoral because be was completely devoid of morality." Wisliceny also said tost Eichmann once said to him: "I’ll jump into my grave laughing because the fact that I have five million Jews on my conscience gives me extraordinary satisfaction.”